James Young is coming off the best performance of his young NBA career, but he’ll watch Wednesday’s Boston Celtics game from the bench.

Head coach Brad Stevens told reporters in Brooklyn that Young and Jameer Nelson will be the two inactives for the Celtics’ matchup with the Nets. Stevens said the decision to sit the rookie, who scored 13 points off the bench Monday in a loss to the Charlotte Hornets, “was a really tough call,” per the team’s official Twitter account.

“He’s earning it,” Stevens said, via MassLive.com’s Jay King. “He’s right on the cusp. … I think he’ll be active more than not as we move here and move forward.”

Nelson remains out as he continues to rehab a sprained ankle.

Returning to action for the Celtics will be reserve guard Marcus Thornton, who sat out the last 11 games with a slight calf tear. Thornton is averaging 8.2 points per game this season and scored in double figures in three of the four games leading up to his injury.